The designer creates a one-of-a-kind travel companion for an Australian getaway

"I like the idea of having parameters," says Steven Alan about his collaboration with V Australia on the "perfect bag" for a trip to Sydney and the Great Barrier Reef. "A lot of what I do is centered around the `perfect' something. Some people put filler in their collections, but if I don't have something to say, then I don't include it." As part of the destination-specific project, Alan traveled Down Under for a week to draw inspiration. The designer spoke with us about his adventure and offered a sneak peek at the final product.

Steven Alan’s Perfect Bag

Steven Alan’s Perfect Bag

"When I was in the Sydney airport, I had to run. I had this big duffel that I was carrying—you know when you have a heavy duffel bag and the straps dig into your shoulder? For a minute, you want backpack straps. I wanted to incorporate that into the design—so that you'd have backpack straps in an emergency without it looking like a backpack."